Bob is holding the box close to his body. “Morla. Sit.” Bob’s voice is firm but calm. His eyes focus on you and he smiles. You’re standing there, wide smile on face, your phone set in camera mode to record the moment.

The box wobbles in Bob’s arms. A little whine. A snuffle. “Alright, Morla. Such a good girl. Stay.” He says before he gently puts the box on the floor and slowly opens the flaps. “Morla, meet your little sister, Momo.” Softest golden fur and curious eyes, a golden retriever puppy pops up, toppling the box.

It’s all curiosity on both sides. Morla sniffing the clumsy puppy. Momo circling the older dog. Morla wags her tail. Momo licks Morla’s nose. And Bob? He lets go of a long held breath. You’d prepared for the moment, of course. You’d brought home a blanket two weeks ago that smelled like the puppy. And every day, you’d visited the shelter to bond with little Momo. Morla knew the scent already.

But now it’s real. Momo is home. In Morla’s and yours and Bob’s space.

It’s only been a few minutes, but Bob feels like he’s forgotten the before already. Momo is in his lap now, snuggled in and slowly dozing off. Morla is next to him, her head on his thigh as she keeps sniffing the new addition.

His gaze shifts to you when you sit down across from him, his line of sight landing on the ring on your finger, then back to your face. You look as content as he feels.

Bob scratches behind Morla’s ear, the older dog now slowly dozing off, too. “I know it’s a calm before the storm kind of thing right now, but this went better than I expected.” Bob whispers and you nod, both of you chuckling when Momo stretches her little legs.